That evening the students gathered in the schoolroom.
They were talking about Miss Minchin.
She had been angry ever since she returned from the house next door, but the students didn't know why.
Ermengarde rushed into the room with a note in her hand.
"Sara sent a note!" she exclaimed. "Her fortune has been given back to her.
She's going to live with the gentleman next door!"
"What? How did this happen?" the girls asked eagerly.
Everyone wanted to hear more from Ermengarde.
Meanwhile little Lottie burst into tears.
She wanted Sara to stay at the school!
"Sara says there really were diamond mines," Ermengarde went on.
"They were filled with millions of diamonds, and she owns half of them.
She's invited me to visit her tomorrow, and I am going!"
The girls chattered loudly about this news.
Miss Minchin heard their noise and thought about scolding them, but she was not in the mood.
Becky also heard them. She crept upstairs earlier than usual.
"Well, that's the end of that," she said to herself.
Her eyes filled with tears as she climbed the last flight of stairs.
She wanted to have one last look at the beautiful things in Sara's room.
"No more fire or rosy lamp," she thought.
"No more supper or anyone telling me stories all night long."
She choked back a sob as she opened the door.
But then she let out a low cry. A fire was blazing—and there stood Ram Dass.
"Miss Sara did not forget you," he said.
"Tomorrow you will go next door to live as her maid."
"What?" Becky could not believe what she was hearing.
"And here's some supper," said Ram Dass.
"Oh, thank you!" Becky shouted happily.
As time passed, Sara became very close friends with Mr. Carrisford.
The gentleman had never had a companion whom he liked as much as he liked Sara!
One evening they were sitting together as usual.
Mr. Carrisford was reading. Sara was staring into the fire.
"What are you thinking about, Sara?" he asked.
She looked up, her cheeks bright pink.
"I was remembering a day when I was hungry."
"You were hungry many days," Mr. Carrisford replied.
"Which hungry day was it?"
"The day when I gave the buns to the beggar girl."
Sara told him about finding money in the sloppy mud outside the bakery.
"You say that I have so much money now.
Do you think I could use some to help the poor?"
"What would you do?" Mr. Carrisford asked softly.
Sara hesitated. "I'd like the baker to feed any hungry children she sees.
Then she could send the bill to me."
Mr. Carrisford instantly nodded. "That's a wonderful idea!"
The next day Sara and Mr. Carrisford visited the baker.
The woman looked closely at Sara. "Have we met before?"
Her friendly face lit up. "I feel that I remember you, but I cannot quite—"
"You once gave me six buns when I could only pay for four!" said Sara.
"And then you gave five of them to a beggar child!" the woman replied.
"I always remembered that." The baker turned to Mr. Carrisford.
"There aren't many children who would do that."
She looked closely at Sara again. "Excuse me, miss, but you look different.
Your cheeks are rosy now, and you appear quite healthy."
"My life has changed," Sara said.
"I was wondering if you could do something for me."
She explained her plan involving poor children and free buns.
The woman watched her, listening with an astonished face.
"Why, I'd be happy to do that," said the baker.
"In fact you've already inspired me.
You looked so cold and hungry, and yet you gave away those buns.
I've often fed poor children since that day."
"I wonder where that beggar girl is now," Sara said.
"Why, she's right here!" the baker replied.
"I told her to come back whenever she was hungry.
I gave her odd jobs and she turned out to be a good worker.
Her name is Anne."
The baker went into the back room and brought Anne out.
Anne was healthy and well fed now.
The two girls stood looking at each other for a minute.
Then Sara held out her hand, and Anne took it.
"I'm so glad that you're doing well," said Sara.
"The baker is going to give buns to poor children.
Perhaps you'd like to be the one who hands out the food.
After all, you know what it's like to be hungry."
"Oh yes, miss," said Anne. "I'd like that very much."
The little princess was very pleased.
"You'll quickly discover what I have discovered," she told Anne.
"There is great joy in giving."